Los Angeles daily herald., 1887-01-16
by striking out needless words; power
since put to use in his dramatic writing.

by striking out needless words; power
since put to use in his dramatic writing.
EDITORIAL WRITING.
Writing editorial articles is an art by
itself: many authors of good novels,
essays, treatises, are unable to master it.
The editorial must be at ones timely,
brief, well-informed, clear, comprehen-
sive and pungent. On the other hend,
some of the most skillful and forcible OF
editorial writers never can learn TO 90
any other Journalistic work.
A good .'ali-round" journalist, even
among chief editors, is an extremely
rare bird. 1t may as well be said here
that a man who has not intelligence aud
equipment enough to rise to the position
of editorial writer, special correspond
emit, or managing editor at large salary,
or edisor-in-cnief, need not hope for
large rewards from journalism. Ex-
ceptional salaries in the highest posi-
tons range from four thousand to ten
thousand dollars a year. The tenure of
place is most uncertain. Engagements
are usuall verbal. and salaries are paid
weekly; with chance OF discharge at
any moment
No special training can be laid oat.
There is no prescribed road TO success.
As to what journalist should sutdy and
know, Charles A. Dana has said to me,
The more the better-that Is the only
rule" The use of miscellaneous but
complete knowledge was shown in the
case of John Foord, who, on the death
of Charles Dickens, was able to sit
down and write in one night whole
newspaper page-thousands of words
about the great novelist 1t turned out
that Mr.. Foord had delivered lectures
on Dickens. and, having memorized
them, he had the whole subject at his
pens end and his minds front.
Schools of journalism, like business
colleges, might teach students their pro-
fession; buI the trouble would be in
having a large staff and collecting real
news. No school should attempt to con-
fer a degree, for this weuld only hamper
the tyro when he came to the test of
real work. Practical experience on an
actual newspaper is the only valuable
school.
The prime objects of = real newspaper
are: First, To give news, comprehen-
sively and concisely; second. entertain
ment of the public; third, Instruction;
fourth, influencing public opinion l
have adopted this order advisediy- All
these purposes are more or less modified
by the desire of the management to
make money Ideal aims will frequently
combat those of the counting room, and
find themselves Topped off and dimin-
ishei accordingly.
REQUISITES PoR BEGISNERs-
The chief requisites for beginners in
journalism. may be summed up thus:
First-A good English education.
Learn first to write English; 1 mean
plain, straight, quick Saxon, sturdy
and 1.-THE rs sapling. Let your Latin
and Greek adoramenls come in after
wards. S.ady the history of the world.
of the United States and Great Britain
and Ireland, and study everything else
that You conveniently can Drill Your
self in writing swift, sharp, vivid yet
graceful, discounts of everything that
comes under Your notice, putting 1t
picturesqueiy bat never at the cost of
clearness and breyity. Colleges do not
te1ch this art.
otSDuu-ASJA1-iAou SSA>S-
Third-Good judgment of the relative
importance of subjects.
Fourth-Obedience, patience, punctu-
ality.
Fifth-In spite of attaining to all
these virtues, do not be prig. How
ever much knowledge your brain may
held. never do or say anything which
will lead the wise to charge you with
being touched by the malady known
as ssbig head" Coaoeit, the wiselt call
That there may be exceptions to these
rules is true enough. There are good
journalists who are net well educated,
patient or any way humble. But L am
speaking of the ideal journalist, and it
will not do for the novice ID model
upon the exceptions.
GEORGE Parsons LarHRoP.